National Convention always gives us the opportunity to re-energize our effort to make democracy work in our communities and to remember that, as individual members, we are part of something bigger than ourselves or our state and local Leagues. We are including in this issue some of the highlights of the 50th LWVUS Convention which involved so much more than even the important business of Program, Bylaws and budget decided by the delegates.

An exceptional array of speakers not only applauded the League for its work, but also called upon the League to lead our communities out of the dysfunction that special interests and divided government have created. Among those outstanding speakers was Attorney General Eric Holder whose appearance on Monday prompted an invitation for me to appear on MSNBC’s Politics Nation with Al Sharpton.

Not only was League Convention visible, it was bold! In addition to supporting a unified, organization-wide effort to overcome the impact of the Citizens United decision, delegates agreed to a concurrence on sentencing reform and to update the League’s agriculture position. Recognizing the importance and success of the Membership and Leadership Development program, delegates invested just over $35,000 in themselves and their Leagues by contributing more than 200 percent of a challenge goal for the program at Convention. Finally, delegates approved the budget, which includes an investment in a modern constituent management database with the potential to knit the organization closer together to attract new members and donors for our cause.

The League is not an end in itself, it is a training ground for democracy. As we return to our states and our communities, Convention 2012 has given us new tools and new energy to power our voices to Power the Vote.

U.S. Attorney General’s Address, Daily Convention Reports and More (NEW)
For everyone who could not make it to Convention 2012, please read U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s inspiring address to the Convention, the daily reports on Convention action, our post-Convention press statement, and our blog post. We’ve used the online tool Storify to pull together tweets sent during the Attorney General’s speech to get a full picture of what attendees were sharing during his address. You can feel the excitement in the room in this final story that pulls out the most compelling thoughts shared by Holder. Please check the Convention webpage periodically as well as future Leaders’ Updates, as we will be posting additional material, including speaker videos, President Elisabeth MacNamara’s messages and Executive Director Nancy Tate’s report and Power Point presentation. Among the impressive array of speakers were Kathleen Hall Jamieson from the Annenberg School, political pollster John Zogby and The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton, along with participating panelists political journalist Eleanor Clift, former Congressman Mickey Edwards from the Aspen Institute and former FEC Chair Trevor Potter from the Campaign Legal Center.

Power the Vote Award Winners! (NEW)
The 2012 Power the Vote Awards, presented during the Convention banquet, went to: LWV of Mobile (AL) for its commitment to Strengthening Democracy; LWV of Florida for its efforts in a High Impact Online Campaign; LWV of New York for successfully Engaging its Community’s youth; and LWV of Palm Beach County (FL) for its efforts in Membership Engagement. Congratulations to all the Leagues who were nominated for an award and special congratulations to our winners! Thank you again to everyone who submitted projects. We look forward to seeing your projects throughout the next biennium.

Press Template for Convention Attendees Available Online (NEW)
We encourage Convention attendees to generate visibility for their Leagues by promoting their attendance at the LWVUS 50th Convention in local media outlets. You may use this customizable template. Remember to submit a photo, too!

Advocacy 101 Documents Online (NEW)
At Convention 2012, the Advocacy staff, LWVUS Board member Judy Davis and LWVUS Advocacy Chair Judy Duffy held a workshop on the basics of a lobbying campaign. Discussions included the “who, what, when, where and why” of advocacy. Please use these documents and guidance provided at that workshop in your own advocacy efforts and share them with other members of your League.

“Bad Romance: Women’s Suffrage” Video to Share (NEW)
Convention delegates loved this video, “Bad Romance: Women’s Suffrage,” so we are sharing it as promised. Please note that this is not a League video, and although it is a Lady Gaga song, it is not Lady Gaga performing.

CLEAN AIR ACTION ALERT (NEW)Stand up for Clean Air: Send your Senators a message now! Clean air protections are being attacked in the U.S. Senate. A vocal minority is threatening to eliminate an historic regulation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This regulation is a landmark Clean Air Act achievement for public health, and we need your help to fight and make sure it remains.

League Opposes S.J. Res 37 (NEW)
The League joined the environmental community in a letter to the U.S. Senate, urging Senators to oppose S.J. Res. 37, the Congressional Review Act disapproval resolution sponsored by Senator Jim Inhofe. This resolution would eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) life-saving Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants. It would also block the agency from re-issuing similar safeguards in the future to protect the public from power plants’ mercury and toxic air pollution.

LWVUS Comments to EPA on Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants (NEW)
LWVUS sent comments to the Environmental Protection Agency in support of the proposed Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants. We commended the EPA for taking this crucial first step to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large power plants that are built in the future. Comments for the proposed standard are being accepted until June 25. You can send your own comments to EPA from our action page.

League Urges Congress to Support the DISCLOSE Act (NEW)
LWVUS sent a letter to Congress asking Senators and Representatives to cosponsor and support the DISCLOSE Act. Delegates to the LWVUS National Convention also handed this letter to their members of Congress and their staff while lobbying on Capitol Hill.

League Position on Privatization (NEW)
The LWVUS now has a position on Privatization! At its June 2012 meeting, the LWVUS Board approved this new position, which is based on responses received from the 227 Leagues across the country that participated in the Privatization Study. Thanks to the many local and state Leagues and ILOs that held meetings, involved their communities, and worked to reach consensus on this important issue. Committee Chair Janis McMillen (KS) and her Committee: Diane DiIanni (TN), Carole Garrison (VA), Ann Henkener (OH), Cathy Lazarus (CA), Nora Leech (WA), Muriel Strand (CA) and Ted Volskay (SC) are to be commended for their excellent work and leadership.

Elections: The League Powers the Vote on TV (NEW)
The League’s Power the Vote activities were featured on television this week! First, LWVUS President Elisabeth MacNamara was a guest on Politics Nation on June 11 with the Leon County (FL) Supervisor of Elections to discuss voter suppression and the efforts to purge the voter rolls in Florida. Then, the long awaited Daily Show segment on H.B. 1355 and voter fraud aired on June 12. On June 1, President MacNamara appeared with Lee Rowland, Brennan Center Counsel, on an earlier segment of Al Sharpton's Politics Nation to talk about the resumption of voter registration in Florida as well as the purging of voter rolls. In addition, there is more news from Wisconsin. Last year, Wisconsin passed a law requiring citizens to show identification at the polls. While two state judges have blocked the law from going into effect, if the injunction is lifted the law would likely disenfranchise thousands of voters. Watch this video to learn more and hear from the Wisconsin LWV executive director.

Elections: On the Ground Report from June 5 Wisconsin Recall Election (NEW)
Our own LWVUS Senior Director for Elections Jeanette Senecal flew to Wisconsin to serve as a polling place observer on June 5. She shares her experience in this June 8 blog post.

Fair Judiciary: Diversity Needed in Washington State Court System (NEW)Northwest Public Radio reported on the Pullman (WA) League of Women Voters’ judicial diversity panel discussion at Washington State University on June 2, 2012. On hand were judges and justices from around the state, including Judge Cameron Mitchell of the Benton-Franklin Superior Court, who said minority groups don’t always feel like they’re part of the judicial system. Read our blog post here.

Fair Judiciary: SC Local League Honors Judicial Diversity Contest Winners (NEW)
Following their successful art contest for students, the LWV of Spartanburg County, SC, featured the three winners in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal (online and print editions) in late May. Ceremonies were held concurrently at the students’ high schools, where they and their principals were presented engraved iPads.

Social Media Tools: Using Facebook and Twitter (NEW)
Thanks to the many members who attended the social media workshop at Convention on Sunday and special thanks to those who tweeted throughout Convention using our #LWV2012 hashtag!
The documents that were distributed are now available online:

Update New League Officers in the LWVUS Database
If your League has had a change in leadership, update new League officers’ information in the LWVUS database. If you have any questions or need help, please contact Betty Taira.

You Can Make a Gift That Helps Your League at All Three Levels!
Some things never change even in these challenging economic times. The League of Women Voters Education Fund continues to be at the forefront of public policy issue education which allows citizens to thoughtfully engage in the democratic process. By making a gift of cash or securities of $5,000 or more to the LWVEF Pooled Income Fund, you can receive an immediate income tax deduction for a portion of the gift's value and continue earning a quarterly return on the interest earned for life. Best of all, you can name your state and/or local League, along with the LWVEF, to benefit from the residual funds when you're gone. For more information, please contact the Development office at 202-263-1355 or plannedgiving@lwv.org.

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